Arylene fluorinated sulfonimide polymers and membranes

Abstract

Aromatic sulfonimide ionene polymers useful as membranes in electrochemical cells are prepared.

1. A polymer comprising repeating units of Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Ar is a divalent group of Formula (III), (IV) or (V): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine;
 R f  is a straight chain, branched or cyclic, perfluorinated alkylene group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with one or more ether oxygens or halogens;
 m is 1-6; 
 p indicates the average number of monomeric units; 
 M is one or more of monovalent cation; 
 and Q is S, SO 2 , CO, or CR 1 R 2 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently branched or cyclic perfluorinated alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein R 1  and R 2  can together form a ring. 
 
 
       
     
     
       2. The polymer of  claim 1  wherein M is K, Na, Li, or H. 
     
     
       3. The polymer of  claim 1  wherein R f  is a perfluorinated alkylene group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       4. The polymer of  claim 3  wherein R f  is a linear, perfluorinated alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       5. The polymer of  claim 1  wherein Ar is a divalent group of Formula (VII), (VIII), or (IX): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       6. The polymer of  claim 1  wherein m is 1. 
     
     
       7. The polymer of  claim 1  wherein Q is SO 2 . 
     
     
       8. The polymer of  claim 1  that is a homopolymer. 
     
     
       9. The polymer of  claim 1  that is a copolymer. 
     
     
       10. The polymer of  claim 1  comprising repeating units of Formula (X): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Ar and Ar′ are independently divalent groups of Formula (III), (IV) or (V), and p and q indicate the average number of monomeric units for each block. 
       
     
     
       11. A membrane made from the polymer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. An electrochemical cell comprising the polymer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       13. A fuel cell comprising the electrochemical cell of  claim 12 .